Tigu and Paulson selected for NCAA Individuals

FAYETTEVILLE – As the 21st-ranked Razorback women’s tennis team prepares to host the Fayetteville Regional of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament, two specific Hogs will also be preparing to compete in the individual doubles and singles portion of the postseason. Senior Anouk Tigu and sophomore Claudine Paulson were both selected a few days after the team selections of the NCAA Tournament. Tigu will compete in the singles field for the 2011 NCAA Singles Championship and along with her, Paulson will compete in the doubles field for the 2011 NCAA Doubles Championship.

“Anouk (Tigu) and Claudine (Paulson) are very deserving of these invitations,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “For Anouk, I know she wants to close out her career in style and for Claudine, this is a great opportunity to play on the highest stage as just a sophomore.”

This is the fourth straight year that Arkansas has sent at least one player to compete in the individual singles tournament and the second straight year for Tigu. Spending the entire year ranked in the top-30, Tigu’s highest singles ranking of No. 16 came after the Hogs upset of No. 4 Notre Dame. Overall, Tigu’s record has been stellar at 24-9 and 14-6 in dual play, all at the No. 1 position. Last year in her first ever NCAA singles tournament, Tigu was able to come away with a first round victory over Reka Zsilinska of Duke in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2.

In doubles, the Razorbacks will be sending one of their best duos the school has seen in recent years. The team of Tigu and Paulson have compiled a record of 26-9 overall and 19-6 in dual play. They also ride a six-match winning streak into the team competition next week. This selection of the doubles team is third invite for a Razorback team since 2008, following Ela Kaluder/Aurelija Miseviciute (’08) and Anouk Tigu/Nanar Airapetian (’09). In the national rankings, Tigu and Paulson sit at No. 14 and have steadily climbed throughout the season and never fallen below the top-40.

The Razorback women’s tennis team will kick off their NCAA postseason Saturday, May 14, when they take on Sacramento State in the first round of the Fayetteville Regional at 1 p.m. All matches of the Fayetteville Regional will be played at the Billingsley Tennis Center.